8th August 2014
Amnesty International Christchurch celebrates release of ‘adopted’ prisoner
Christchurch Amnesty International members are celebrating the news that Chinese dissident, Gao Zhisheng, has been
released from prison.
Mr Gao, a prominent human rights lawyer, was sentenced to three years in prison in 2011 for ‘violating probation rule’
on earlier charges of ‘inciting subversion’. Christchurch Amnesty International group adopted the case of Mr Gao in 2012
and have been campaigning for his release ever since, including holding a birthday party for him at Café 8 on New Regent
Street earlier in the year.
“We’re thrilled with the news that Gao is finally out” says group spokesperson Stefan Fairweather.
“Mr Gao was imprisoned on trumped up charges. He has been into bat for religious minorities, Falun Gong and has defended
other human rights activists in China and for simply doing his job, he was put in prison. This is wrong and shouldn’t be
tolerated”.
Amnesty International, along with US, European Union and the United Nations had repeatedly called on the Chinese
authorities to release him.
Amnesty International, a human rights action group, campaigns for an end to grave human rights abuses around the world.
For more information on Gao Zhisheng’s case or how to become involved with Amnesty Christchurch group, please email CHCHRT@amnesty.org.nz
ENDS